CO129-531-9 Hong Kong University- proposal to found faculty of Chinese studies 17-10-1930 - 10-6-1931 — Page 70

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Foreign Office are not in a position to speak in any way for

the College, but so far as we are concerned we should be very

glad if you were to write to the Chinese Minister of Industry

at Nanking in the sense of the first paragraph of Section IV of

your memorandum. If you would like me to send the letter through

Lampson, and ask him to back this proposal, I should be very glad

to do so. The Department of Overseas Trade observe in this

connection that their experience in respect of all Oriental

students sent Overseas for the purpose of study points to the

great necessity for the careful selection of students, strict

limitation of their numbers, and, above all, the consideration

of the probability of obtaining employment on their return to

their native country. These considerations will, I expect, seem

to you to be elementary.

4.

Students' expenses and provision of any extra buildings

or staff. I am afraid that the prospects of financial assistance

here are not bright. The Universities China Committee will shortly

receive £200,000 (two hundred thousand pounds) for certain purposes

set out in the First Schedule to the Act of which I enclose a copy.

But it seems very doubtful whether the payment of the fees and

other expenses of Chinese students at the Imperial College at

Trinidad could be brought within the scope of these purposes.

You might care to discuss this point with Mr. H. T. Silcock, the

Secretary of the Committee, whose address is Friends House,

Euston Road, N. W. 1. (Telephone number Museum 6334.)

5.

As regards the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture,

you will, of course, already have been in frequent consultation

with the Colonial Office.

I hope that, perhaps, they may be able to provide some part,

at least, of the funds needed to carry out your excellent project.

Yours very sincerely,

(Signed) HUGH DALTON.

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